I shake my head, trying to break loose from my spiraling thoughts. “Can you tell me something about Andrew? I know almost nothing. Only that he and my mom met at a youth group conference. I don’t think they were even actually together.”

Betty’s carefully painted lips spread into a fond smile, and I lean back into the sofa for the first time since arriving. “Andrew was handsome, charming, charismatic,” she says. “Always the center of the party and ready for anything. He lived a lot of life in the twenty years he was given. As if he knew his time was short. He was always racing from one thing to the next. He’d fly into my house, front door slamming against the wall, left wide open and letting in the cold, and shout, ‘Where’s my best girl?’” Her voice cracks at the last part, her eyes wet. She gives me a long look. “You look very much like him. Same dark blue eyes, same easy smile. But you’re very serious, too. In that way, you remind me more of James.”

“Is that my uncle?”

Betty gives a sad nod. “He was barely sixteen when Andrew died. They were together, at the show and after. But James only had his learner’s permit and couldn’t drive. Rightly so, though he’s had a difficult time forgiving himself.”

“So young. That sounds horrible.”

“It was awful. All-around awful. James not only lost his big brother, but his first girlfriend was in the car, too. She didn’t make it. He, well … It was a very difficult time.”

“Does James know about me?” I ask, quiet.

“Not yet.”

That stings, irrational as it might be. I just arrived, after all. But it’s as though I can’t escape the secrets. Betty must read it in my expression and reaches out a hand, grasping mine. “I didn’t want to say anything until I heard from you or your mom saying you wanted to know us. He’s already lost so much.”

“I understand. Maybe it’s best not to … What if I make him sad? It’s been so long. For all of you. I don’t mean to dig up old memories.”

Also, I’m a coward. I can fully admit to this, even if only to myself. Meeting Betty is one thing. She’s elderly and has purple hair. But meeting my uncle? My dad’s brother? That’s a lot realer. What if he looks like Andrew What if he sounds like him? What if he doesn’t want to know me?